No Kawhi, Lakers still dangerous
this level suggest more of a longterm concern.
Barrett was unavailable to the media after Sunday’s game. The day before, he was untroubled by his issues in the opener. The circumstances weren’t ideal for a debut, with a star-studded crowd to witness the Knicks’ opponent that night, Zion Williamson, and an earthquake stopping the game in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been working hard all summer, getting in great shape,” Barrett said. “There’s nothing you can do to simulate a game like that. So, sure, I haven’t played a game in three months. I was fine. Shots didn’t fall, but I’m good.”
On the flip side, second-round pick Ignas Brazdeikis was impressive Sunday with 30 points. The highlight was a crossover-to-a-3pointer that tied the game with 24 seconds remaining. The Knicks went on to lose in overtime.
“Every time I step on the floor, I feel I’m the best player,’’ Brazdeikis said. “My confidence never wavers. I’m always aggressive. I always make plays. It doesn’t matter what stage I’m on.”
Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson have both played well in the two games. And back to perspective: Knox looked like a star in the Summer League a year ago, and then struggled for most of the NBA regular season.
With Barrett, the Knicks hope a couple Summer League games are also misleading. The Lakers may have missed out on Kawhi Leonard — to the Los Angeles Clippers at that — but it doesn’t mean their season is a wash. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. The Lakers’ moves in the aftermath of Leonard’s decision read like an organization that has learned from its mistakes. This is now Rob Pelinka’s show to run and, at least on paper, this Lakers team looks as good as ever.
The Lakers are a team that has its stars in place, and a supporting cast properly arranged around that core. It has added the key elements champions are made of: perimeter shooting and defense, with a sprinkle of veteran depth.
So long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis can stay on the floor., the Lakers will be championship contenders next season. That’s two of the seven-orso best players in the league on the same team.
Those two alone, though, weren’t enough. With a depleted free agency market, the Lakers had to get creative. The first move was the most obvious: putting James at the point guard position full-time.
By the time Leonard chose the Clippers, the point guard market had shrunk to Rajon Rondo and Jeremy Lin. The Lakers signed Rondo, along with sharpshooter Quinn Cook, but neither is projected to start. Instead, it will be James, who has been the de facto point guard every step of his career.
Missing out on a starting point guard, the Lakers did the next smartest thing: getting James some help on the wings. LeBron will be the point guard, but he can’t be asked to defend them. Instead, the Lakers re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, then added both Danny Green and Avery Bradley. Those are three players who can defend most guards and wings. They’re also players who can get hot from 3. This is the core of what will make the Lakers special. Davis and James are an elite one-two punch, but versatility and perimeter defense are what champions are built on. The Lakers have guards who can defend multiple positions, and two superstars who can hold their own. They also have another star ready for a revival.
DeMarcus Cousins signed a minimum contract to reunite with Davis on the Lakers, and he’s as motivated as ever to prove he’s not a minimum player. He’s coming off of a ruptured Achilles and a torn quad in the past two seasons. The injury history speaks for itself. But the Warriors won their only two games of the NBA Finals when Cousins played well. With a full summer to rehab from his injury, he may be able to regain some semblance of his All-Star self. The Lakers will give him the rope, and they’ll manage his load. An impressive season could be the difference between another minimum contract, and his last big payday.
From there, the Lakers rounded the rest of their roster out. It was imperative for them not to include Kyle Kuzma in an Anthony Davis trade. He averaged 18.7 points per game last season and has the potential to be a knock-down shooter in a world where all the focus will be on James and Davis. The Lakers also signed JaVale McGee, who has championship pedigree winning back-to-back rings in Golden State.